New Books in Science, Technology, and Society Alison Bashford, "Decoding the Hand: A History of Science, Medicine, and Magic" (U Chicago Press, 2025)
Jan 10, 2026
Historian Alison Bashford dives into the captivating intersection of science, medicine, and magic through the lens of palmistry. She reveals how iconic figures like Isaac Newton and Darwin were intrigued by the hand's significance. Discover tales of pioneering palm readers, including Charlotte Wolff's adventurous primate studies, and Francis Galton's foundational work in dermatoglyphics. Bashford also discusses modern applications in genetics and the ongoing allure of palmistry, highlighting its role in both scientific inquiry and mystical traditions.
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Archive Discovery Of A Gorilla's Palm
- Alison Bashford found Aldous Huxley and Virginia Woolf's palm prints in a Wellcome archive folder.
- She also discovered a larger palm print: Mock the lowland gorilla's print taken from the zoo morgue after its death.
Deep Multicultural Roots Of Hand-Reading
- Chiromancy and physiognomy have deep roots across cultures, including South Asian, Greek, Chinese, Jewish, and Persian traditions.
- These practices developed from reading the body's surface for temperament and character, later narrowing into palmistry.
Palmistry Was Historical Medicine
- Early chiromancy texts were often written by physicians and formed part of medical practice.
- Physicians integrated celestial medicine and body-reading, making palmistry part of historical medicine rather than pure superstition.
